DENNIS PLANT GARDEN
Plant Care & Information
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MAJESTIC PALM TREE
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Photo Credit (C) Dennis Lee Brown 2017
Majesty Palm Tree
Indoor Palm Tree
Botanical Name: (Ravenea rivularis)
The majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) is a slow-growing palm with long green fronds that lend it an elegant and graceful feel. Grown both indoors and outdoors, the palm gives a fresh touch to indoor spaces, as well as adding sophisticated framing or focal points to outdoor landscaping.
Preferred Zones
California features diverse growing zones, so depending on where you live, double check that the majesty is a good fit for your outdoor planting needs. The majesty palm does best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b to 11. Those who live in other zones can still grow this plant indoors to use it as an elegant decorative accent.
Watering Requirements
The majesty palm enjoys a moist environment with well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist, but not so wet that the roots are sitting in water. Indoor trees benefit from misting once a day. If you start to see yellow tips on the fronds, that is a good indicator that you are over-watering, and you need to back off on the moisture.
Pruning Injured Fronds
Like many other palms, the majesty palm thrives best with regular pruning of yellow and brown fronds. Cut them off with clean shears to increase air circulation around your tree and create space for new fronds to grow.
Fertilization and Frond Health
If your majesty palm experiences yellowing fronds and you know that you are not over-watering, it could be due to lack of fertilizer. This species of tree requires fertilization every two weeks with a basic household fertilizer at half strength. Be careful not to use too much fertilizer, which can damage or stress the tree further.
Light and Shade
If you are looking for a palm tree that does well in the shade, a majesty palm could be just what you are looking for. It thrives on bright indirect light, so it will grow well indoors in a room with plenty of windows, or outdoors in an area that is partially shaded.
Temperatures and Frost Protection
The majesty palm prefers temperatures ranging from 45 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It thrives in slightly warm conditions and should be protected from frost when kept outdoors. During the first winter, overwinter the tree in a pot and acclimate it to outdoor temperatures gradually by placing it in a garage. Spray the fronds with an antidesiccant to keep leaves from wilting, mulch generously around the base of the trunk, protect the bud and make use of frost blankets for up to three days at a time.
Pests and Diseases
Though majesty palms are fans of moisture, they are also susceptible to fungal infections. Keep the tree in a well-ventilated area and watch for signs of over-watering. Spider mites are another common pest; regularly wiping the underside of fronds helps to keep the mites at bay. Neem oil and insecticidal soap can come to the rescue if you notice an existing spider mite infestation.
Photo Credit (C) Dennis Lee Brown 2017
Majesty Palm Tree
The majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis)
Palm Tree Ideal Preferences
Water
Never let a palm's root ball sit in water. Good drainage is essential. Prefers moist but well-drained soil.
Fertilizer
For best results, use a general houseplant fertilizer that includes iron every 2-3 months in the spring and summer. Give a pinch of Epsom salts once a month to supply adequate magnesium. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter months—it’s important to give your palm a chance to rest during the cooler time of year.
Light
Bright light conditions indoors, like a lot of light, Avoid direct hot sun light, the plant can adopt to low light (see: Plant Light). Your Majesty Palm will thrive indoors if they receive approximately 4-6 hours of bright, indirect light per day.
Soil
Use a rich soil that drains well for a Majesty Palm. If using a basic houseplant mix for a Majesty Palm, try adding some sand. Never let the soil dry completely;
Hardiness (min.)
Zone 10a -11 50° to 80°F (10° to 27°C)
Propagation
Majesty palms are raised exclusively from seed, and thus far commercial production is comparatively limited. It's highly unlikely that home growers can get access to seeds. If, however, your plant flowers and produces seed, harvest and plant the seeds quickly in a shallow container. Germination is rapid for a palm tree.
Repotting
These are fast-growing palm trees, so single specimen plants may need to be repotted annually. When repotting, be careful not to damage the root-ball and use a large and heavy enough container to prevent the palm tree from blowing over.
Blooms
Blooms grows for foliage
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